SPAD at Kennesaw State University

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In response to RFA-RM-19-004: Sponsored Programs Administration Development (SPAD), we propose to establish the SPAD at Kennesaw State University (KSU) program. KSU is a rapidly growing and the 3rd largest university in the University System of Georgia (USG), primarily serving undergraduates (~35,000) from diverse (>35% URM), and lower socioeconomic status (~36% of students are Pell-eligible) backgrounds. In its nascent stage of development, KSU’s research enterprise is small (~$1.68M in total NIH RPG funding over the past three fiscal years); yet through the NIH Bridges to the Doctorate program and other recent programming, KSU shows amazing promise in its ability to impact research with primarily undergraduate students. Based on an in-depth self-assessment of the research challenges faced by KSU, the goals of the SPAD at KSU program are timely, relevant, and strategic. We propose to: a) develop capacity for both under-represented minority (URM) faculty and students to conduct biomedical research; b) develop our sponsored programs and diversity infrastructures to support the growing research emphasis of the university; and c) develop linkages and collaborations across the state and region to increase our competitiveness in biomedical research. To achieve these goals, we have identified 28 activities that the SPAD at KSU program proposes to launch, with strategic and intentional guidance from a Steering Committee, key Mentors representing KSU aspirational institutions, and expert consultants. These activities range from development of best practice procedures and policies for grants management, to explicit mentoring and research development activities for URM faculty and students, to the strengthening of key regional and national partnerships in biomedical research. The success of the SPAD at KSU program will be transformative in changing the research culture at KSU. We expect to positively impact the growth of research development and to develop a solid and sustainable grants administration foundation. Faculty and students, particularly URM, will be empowered to conduct research with relevance, and the institution will have built a strong internal infrastructure as well as linkages and collaborations across the state and region to increase our competitiveness in biomedical research.